D.C. United Women was an American soccer club based in Washington, D.C. that competed in the

USL W-League The USL Championship (USLC) is a professional men's soccer league in the United States that began its inaugural season in 2011. The USL is sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation (U.S. Soccer) as a Division II league since 2017, pl ...

, the second tier of women's soccer in the United States. The team was an affiliate of

Major League Soccer Major League Soccer (MLS) is a men's professional soccer league sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation, which represents the sport's highest level in the United States. The league comprises 29 teams—26 in the U.S. and 3 in Cana ...

club, D.C. United but operated independently by Washington Soccer Properties, LLC. To participate in the new professional

National Women's Soccer League The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) is a professional women's soccer league at the top of the United States league system. It is owned by the teams and, until 2020, was under a management contract with the United States Soccer Federati ...

for the 2013 season, the team reformed as

Washington Spirit The Washington Spirit is an American professional soccer club based in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area that participates in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). It is a continuation of the D.C. United Women of the W-League and cont ...

in December 2012.

History

Founding

D.C. United Women were announced on March 29, 2011, as part of a partnership with some of the owners of the Northern Virginia Majestics, through a newly founded group named Washington Soccer Properties. As a part of the agreement in for the 2011 season, D.C. United Women competed in the Northeast Division of the W-League Eastern Conference, while the Majestics competed in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. While Washington Soccer Properties does control most aspects of the team, D.C. United does provide oversight, assistance, and support. Washington Soccer Properties purchased the W-League franchise vacated by

Washington Freedom Futures Washington Freedom Futures was an American women’s soccer team and the top-level amateur team in the Washington Freedom Soccer Club hierarchy. The team was a member of the United Soccer Leagues USL W-League, W-League, the second tier of women’ ...

when the team was disbanded following the sale of its senior team

Washington Freedom Washington Freedom was an American professional soccer club based in the Washington, D.C., suburb of Germantown, Maryland, that participated in Women's Professional Soccer. The Freedom was founded in 2001 as a member of the defunct Women's Unite ...

who moved to

Boca Raton, Florida Boca Raton ( ; es, Boca Ratón, link=no, ) is a city in Palm Beach County, Florida, United States. It was first incorporated on August 2, 1924, as "Bocaratone," and then incorporated as "Boca Raton" in 1925. The population was 97,422 in the ...

and became magicJack. During the off-season between 2011 and 2012, Washington Soccer Properties ownership group severed ties with like owners involved with Northern Virginia Majestics, and operate entirely independently from that team as a result.

2011 season

In their first season, D.C. United Women played 10 league games, winning five, drawing three and losing two. They ended the season with four straight victories and finished in third place in the Northeast Division. Defender and co-captain Marisa Abegg was named to the W-League All-Conference Team for the Eastern Conference. For their inaugural season, D.C. United Women's average home attendance for the 2011 season was over 800 fans, with D.C. United Women having five home games at the Maryland SoccerPlex. They won the W-League Rookie Club of the Year award for their performance during the 2011 season.

2012 season

For 2012, the W-League's Eastern Conference expanded to a 12-game schedule, and D.C. United Women moved to the Atlantic Division where they played Dayton Dutch Lions, Fredericksburg Impact, Northern Virginia Majestics, and Virginia Beach Piranhas three times each during the regular season. They finished the regular season with eleven wins, no losses, and one draw, good enough for first place in the Atlantic Division and the Eastern Conference and for a tie as W-League regular-season champions with the Pali Blues. That status gave them hosting rights for the Eastern Conference playoffs, where they defeated the Virginia Beach Piranhas, 3–0, in the semifinals, and the Charlotte Lady Eagles, 3–0, in the final. They went on to the W-League Final Four, where they lost to the host Ottawa Fury, 1–0, then finished third by downing the Quebec City Amiral on penalty kicks, 1–1 (7–6). The team received the W-League's 2012 Fair Play and Media Awards. Marisa Abegg, Hayley Siegel, and Mikaela Howell made the All-Eastern Conference team. Additionally, Howell made W-League history by being the first player ever to be named to the Team of the Week five weeks in a row, culminating in being named Player of the Week in Week 6 of the season.

Players and staff

2012 roster

''As of July 27, 2012''

Coaches

* Michael Jorden 2011–present * Cindi Harkes 2011–present

Season results

Key

;Regular season * GP = Games played * W = Won * L = Lost * T = Tied * GF = Goals for * GA = Goals against * Pts = Points * Pos = Final position ;League * W-League =

;National Cup * QR1 = First Qualifying Round * QR2 = Second Qualifying Round * QR3 = Third Qualifying Round * R1 = First Round * R2 = Second Round * R3 = Third Round * QF = Quarterfinals * SF = Semifinals * F = Final ;Playoffs * C-SF = Conference Semifinals * C-F = Conference Finals * SF = League Semifinals * F = League Finals

References

External links

* {{Navboxes , title = D.C. United organization , titlestyle = background:#000; color:#DD0000; border: 1px solid #DD0000; , state =autocollapse , list = {{D.C. United Women {{D.C. United D.C. United Association football clubs established in 2011 Women's soccer clubs in the United States USL W-League (1995–2015) teams 2011 establishments in Washington, D.C. Phoenix clubs (association football)